Family Law

Ernie’s Approach

Ask someone to rank the most important things in their life, and almost universally, “family” is at the top of their list. This fact is not lost upon Ernie. Ernie has built and excelled in his family law practice based upon the fundamental premise that nobody knows you and your children’s needs, personalities, and best interests better than you. Truly taking this to heart, Ernie embraces the role of an attorney in a family law matter, which is to first listen, second educate and advise, third listen again, and fourth advocate.

LISTEN

To accomplish your desired outcome, an attorney must first listen closely and diligently to your particular circumstances and to what your desired outcome for you (and, if applicable, your children) are. You know yourself, your situation, and, if applicable, your children better than anyone, and Ernie is ready to listen to you and your goals.

EDUCATE & ADVISE

In order for Ernie and you to collaborate and work together to achieve your goals, it is imperative that Ernie educate you as to how the law applies to your particular circumstances. The law is rarely black and white, especially in family law matters as the questions that have to be answered usually come down to what is “fair and equitable,” or “in the best interests of your child/children.” While these legal standards are admittedly subjective and give the Court a significant amount of discretion, Ernie’s vast family law knowledge and experience enables him to provide you the most foresight possible as to best possible outcomes, worst possible outcomes, and everything in between. Ernie’s goal is to fully and completely inform and educate you so that you know your options and then advise you as to the possible/probable outcomes that apply to each of your options.

LISTEN AGAIN

After Ernie has listened to and understands all the fine details of your case and your goals, and has provided education and advice based on those circumstances and goals, it is time for him to again listen. Throughout a divorce and/or child custody case, there are numerous decisions that must be made and Ernie understands that the only person that should be making those decisions is you. Ernie understands that this is your case, the decisions made during your case have extremely important and impactful effects, and that while he is a great tool to assist you, you are in control.

ADVOCATE

After you have made an informed decision as to what is in your best interests and, if applicable, your children’s best interests, Ernie gets to do what he loves to do most: Advocate! In Missouri, zealously advocating for you is not only allowed, it is required. Ernie takes tremendous pride in his trial skills that he has developed through ample education and experience since even before he was licensed to practice law. In order to successfully present a case, Ernie will take the details of your case and your goals into consideration to determine and employ the best strategies from the time you first walk into his office through the time the Court
enters a Judgment (i.e., the order of the court).

Types of Cases We Handle

Ernie handles a wide range of family law related matters, both simple and complex, to help his clients move on to have a happy and successful future. Specifically, Ernie handles cases involving, but not limited to, the following:

  • Divorce
  • Legal Separation
  • Child Custody and Support
  • Grandparent’s Rights
  • Domestic Violence
  • Modifications of Child Custody and Support
  • Modifications of Maintenance/Alimony Awards

Choosing the Right Family Law Attorney

Very few people, if any, enter into a marriage expecting it to end. If you or your spouse has made the difficult decision to end your marriage, you need Ernie’s skillful and experienced legal representation. How do you know Ernie is the right family law attorney for your case?

Competence

Several factors will need to be determined as you file for divorce or defend against a divorce, including:

  • Division of Assets
  • Spousal Support (i.e., maintenance/alimony)
  • Child Custody and Child Support

These matters are exceptionally important and must be handled with care, knowledge, and skill. These matters deserve nothing less than the very best legal representation available, which includes a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of an area of law that is constantly being refined through the passage of laws and appellate court opinions. To that end, we urge you to choose wisely. The lawyer you choose to represent you could have an enormous impact on the outcome of your case.

Professionalism

In today’s society, divorce is no longer an uncommon fate for many married couples. While the stereotype that divorces are ugly and messy holds true in some cases, there are many divorce cases that are resolved amicably, sometimes even without the necessity of a trial. Unfortunately, there are many legal professionals that will build or initiate animosity between the parties into a case, whether intentionally or not. To the contrary, Ernie lives up to the standards of professionalism expected when attending to matters of this nature. Ernie understands that an amicable resolution, if possible, is usually in everyone’s best interests as it results in the least amount of stress and reduces the attorney’s fees for everyone involved, including Ernie’s clients.

Care and Compassion

Taking one household and making it two is not an emotionally easy process. Even in cases where the divorce or separation was mutual and even beneficial to both parties, both spouse’s identities are changing. Becoming “I” after being “we” can have a larger emotional toll on you than you might have originally anticipated. Care and compassion is not something that can be taught in law school. You were either raised with it or you were not. It is either part of you or it is not. Ernie’s love for people, his care for their interests, and his compassion for their burdens and grief have always been and will always continue to be a central component of who he is.

Battle-Tested and Battle-Proven

While most cases settle, if you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement, your case will almost certainly have to proceed to trial. While many attorneys tout themselves as “trial attorneys,” Ernie has proven his trial skills in the numerous, successful judgments he has obtained through the numerous cases he has tried.

CALL OUR OFFICE NOW TO SCHEDULE AN INITIAL MEETING

Ernie has represented numerous family law clients in counties all across Missouri, and if you find yourself in the need of a family law attorney, Ernie looks forward to zealously representing you as well. Please contact our office today to schedule your initial meeting with Ernie.